Friday, January 30, 2015

This week has gone by so fast! Elder Chavis is a blast, I
truly love working with a new missionary. And it is so fun training, I love it.
So this week I have never been so busy with phone calls checking up on the zone
and other responsibilities. Yeah it has been crazy this week. At zone training
we were given amazing instruction and council from President Smith, when we
returned home we prayed asking for el ayuda de padre celestial (the help of
Heavenly Father) with the missionaries in our zone and we made a convenio
(covenant) with Him. So this week as a zone we set a goal for 70 new people to
teach. Last night came rolling around and I’m writing down the stats and I am
getting numbers like 5, 4, 6 new people to teach. And I’m thinking we are not
going to make our goal of 70 then we hit some big numbers and we ended up
hitting the goal! We actually ended up with 74 new people to teach!!!We also experienced another miracle with the
zone. For 4 months we could never reach our baptism goal, we would always fall
short and I mean way short. So this month we set a goal for 6. Then we made
some changes, President Smith told us to leave the Bible in the house, so we
did, he also told us to change our way of contacting in the street so we did.
On Saturday we had our 6th baptism as a zone in huehue centr. Through many
prayers and obedience to President Smith’s instruction and council we achieved
our goal. This was a tender mercy our zone needed. I won’t go into details
of other changes we made, but we made a lot of changes, hard changes but
changes the Lord wanted us to make, we did, and reached our goal. It feels so
good to reach our goal and we are just starting!

The Blessing Of Obedience

Today, Monday January 26th is the 5 year anniversary of
our beloved angel, Chris Cook being called back to our eternal home. I would
like to end my e-mail with these words. As I have had so many experiences on my
mission and I have seen many things I have come to know Jesus Christ and I
testify that He overcame death, that there is no sting. Yes I know it is hard
to lose someone you love; the day Chris Cook my Gramma lost her battle to cancer
changed our family. How can we say we are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
and how can we bear any moving or lasting testimony of His divinity when we
have never experienced anything like He experienced. In words similar to Elder
Holland I am convinced that to truly come to know the living Christ, to return
home, we have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane or we have to take
at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary. So my dear family I challenge
you that on this day lose yourself in the scriptures especially when Christ
came to the American Continent and seek to gain a greater understanding of the
atonement. If you do so I promise you will feel a light, you will feel the love
of our Heavenly Father and our Savior and you will shed tears of gratefulness. It
is no coincidence that this morning we taught a mother that lost her baby and
as Elder Chavis and I were teaching her you could feel the spirit testifying families
are forever. It is through the power of the Savior’s Atonement, we can be
together again with our families after death. So give thanks that we all
had the chance to know Grammy and give thanks that families are forever. Have joy
in knowing that she has moved on to do a greater work and have joy that we know
these things are made possible from a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior who
has felt the heartache and pain we feel. Yes I know it hurts but the pain is
swallowed up in the resurrección de cristo and His infinite atonement.

Chillin' With Elder Chavis

Horchata Love!!!!

Con mucho amor

Elder Mcilmoil

January 26, 2015

Mad Wall Skills

Scripture of the week: Doctrine and Covenants 24: 7-8

“The temple will be an ever-present reminder that God
INTENDED the FAMILY to be ETERNAL.” Ezra Taft Benson

When ye seek first the kingdom of God you shall find joy.

“Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in
this great cause.” Spencer W. Kimball

“Everyone loses his or her way at some point, to some
degree it is the atoning sacrifice of the Savior that can return us home.”
Elder M. Russell Ballard

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Big news….THE KIDS WERE LEFT HOME ALONE!!!!!!
(greenies/new missionaries) and THEY DIDNT DIE…THEY HAVE GROWN UP SO FAST!!!
Why were the kids left at home alone? Elder Moncada and I went to formación
líder de zona en Xela con el Presidente Smith. And the Kids found 3 Familias
while we were gone!!! WOW!

Ridding With The Big Kids

Anyway the consejo (advice) at zone leader training
meeting was something else. President Smith said we need to street contact
better. He said we need to talk about both Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon
during a street contact. I was like how; I have no idea how to say those two
things in a street contact. Then I remembered I am called por un profeta de
dios (prophet of God) to say those things. As we street contact we are always
looking for a reason to start a conversation, we have been counseled that we
have 2 reasons to start a conversation. All I can say is since I have been
called to train and be a ZL my faith has grown, a lot! I see almost everything
we do as missionaries now as acts of faith. Talking about Joseph Smith and the
Book of Mormon during a street contact is an act of faith.

Watching Over Huehue

Mission Prep With Lacho

This week we did divisions with the assistants here in
Huehue. Elder Portilla and I went to a lesson and as we were teaching this lady
you could feel the spirit so strongly and you could feel that she is going to
be baptized. It was a very neat feeling. Elder Chavis and I had a cita hoy
(appointment today) so we went and our plan was to plan a date for baptism this
month but as soon as I walked in I knew that Michael’s date was not going to
happen this month, I felt strongly it would be in February. So we challenged
him and he said I will be baptized in February. I pray that he will stay
committed to a February baptism.

More Stripling Warrior Pics

During zone conference we talked about the restoration
and asked why people don’t accept this message. The answer is they don’t
understand; why don’t they understand? It is not only because of the traditions
of their fathers (Alma 17:9) and not only because of their hard hearts
(Alma 17:14) it is because we don’t teach the message of the restoration
good enough. We did role play and we saw a good example and a bad example which
was planned out by Elder Moncada and me and the sister leaders. Our purpose was
for us as missionaries to recognize that we teach the message of the
restoration very poorly in almost every lesson and we don’t take notice. It is
our challenge and focus to each of us in the zone to teach the most important
lesson better and clearer so people can truly understand that there is only one
and true church upon the face of the earth. My testimony of the restoration has truly grown. It is
amazing how much my testimony has grown.

We Once Had Something To Cook On

Chillin' For A Minute

What I love about Mom is that she is accepting the Lord’s
will and what love about Dad is that he has a picture of Christ in his class
room at school.

con mucho amor, ducks forever,

Elder Mcilmoil

January 19, 2015

Saturday Selfie

Scripture of the week: Doctrine and Covenants 39:29

“I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith
always triumphs and that heavenly promises are always kept.” Elder
Holland

If God brought you to it; He will bring you through it.

If we truly want to become like the Savior, we must learn
to teach in the way He taught.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

So this week I gave birth to my first child (mission
slang for a missionary meeting the missionary he/she will be training since
that missionary is a brand new missionary.) Anyway his name is Elder Chavez, he
is from Nicaragua and he is bien pilas (sick=great). It is a blast being with
him. I love all missionaries but there is something special about the new
missionaries. They are so eager to learn and excited to work. Elder Moncada and
I went to Xela on Tuesday to pick up our new missionaries. We got back to Huehue
at 6:30 pm and we went right to work. I’m excited to train and excited because
the work is really starting to take off here, we are finding people to teach
slowly but it is coming. This week has been a good week; we have worked really
well together.

Elder Mac y Elder Moncada y Sus Hijos

I want to share an experience I had that opened my eyes
to what I really have, so Elder Chavez and I were knocking doors; we knocked on
this door of a family and a daughter answered well she leaned over the balcony.
I tell her we are missionaries and then her face just turns colors or loses her
excitement and is like oh. Then I said to her that we have a message about
families. She ok but my parents are busy and she was just starts to shut us
down. But before she does I said our message is about families that can be together
forever. As soon as I said that she stops dead in her tracks and she stays and
listens. I then said if you want your family to be forever, we would like to come
by and share how you can have a forever family.She said ok you can come by. I asked her what day would work best. She
said cualquier (whenever). So I asked what time, then she said cuando uds
pueden (when you two can come by) and she left. Elder Chavez and I felt like we
needed to wait a few minutes before leaving so we stood in front of the house. The
dad looked out the window, and the daughter looked out the window. So I went
and knocked on the door again and nothing.As I left my heart just ached, in that very moment it hit me so hard
what they just passed up/rejected/ missed, not only did they reject Christ, but
they rejected the chance to have a forever family. Then I saw what I have, I
have two parents that were sealed in the temple and my family is forever only
if we live the commandments obediently. I am so grateful that my family is a forever
family; NO EMPTY CHAIRS!

Highway To Heaven?

When we contact people we focus on the restoration. It is
very interesting to see how people react when we tell them God has called prophets
again to guide and direct us here in this world. Some people’s reaction is that
is impossible, others reaction is I don’t care and then some find it very interesting
and they listen to us. As we search out the prepared it is interesting to see
what the Lord does to us, He cleans us to be worthy vessels for example He may
say ok your repentance is enough, now you need to know this about repentance so
you can be better. I am learning that TRUE repentance and TRUE confession is changing
the way you live, actually putting in an effort to change. Yesterday I knew
that the Lord has forgiven me, but He told me my son you need to change, change
the way you live, to be truly forgiven for I have forgiven you but now it is
time to raise the bar in your life. I know that I am on the Lord’s time line; I
need to be patient and seek more often understanding how I may become a clean
and worthy vessel to be an instrument in His hands to find those who have been
prepared to hear His message.

Stripling Warriors

What I love about Mom is that she keeps going and what I
love about Dad is who he is. Con mucho amor

Elder Mcilmoil January 12, 2015

Selfie Sunday

Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 1:16

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes
our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." President Ezra
Taft Benson

“When we love the lord, obedience ceases to be a burden.
Obedience becomes a delight.” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Thursday, January 8, 2015

I have Big News I am TRAINING!!!!! So in the
mission President Smith is having most of the zone leaders train. So yes, Elder
Moncada and I are still the zone leaders. He will also be training a missionary
who has six weeks left in his greenie training and then Elder Moncada goes
home. Once again there will be four of us living together. I am so stoked to train;
it is going to be fun. As I think of this calling I know it is a very special privilege
because it is a calling Christ had in His life. When Christ called twelve men as
Apostles to teach His gospel, He had to train those twelve men (Matthew 10). So
yes in some ways it is the same but in other ways it is not. Those twelve men
Christ called had no clue what to do just like the greenies, I mean at least
the greenies had the MTC to help. I have to show this kid everyday life of
being about our Father’s business just like Christ did, I will prepare him to
teach like Christ did, I need to love him like Christ loved those twelve men. I
will show him how he can exercise faith like Christ showed the twelve. There
are so many points that are the same, and one of my favorite is this, I have to
be humble in teaching this kid the doctrine of the kingdom. Yes we know the
doctrine but we don’t know it truly enough and we always need to learn more. I
will need to prepare him to teach and testify of the doctrines of the restored
gospel by the spirit so the people will feel and recognize the Spirit, and to
invite the people to make commitments to do the things that will help them
become converted. I need to help him see the basic needs of the people and to
serve with kindness and unconditional love. To serve with obedience and desire
to work just as Christ taught the twelve to serve. I am truly grateful for this
chance I have to train and show a new missionary in a small way how Christ
prepared the twelve to serve and to bring souls unto Christ through the saving ordinances
of the gospel.

1. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto
my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi,
because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful
and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they
seek to take away thy life.
2. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that
he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
3. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord,
wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
4. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his
house, and the land of his

inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his
precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and
provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
5. And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he
traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he
did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother,
Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

In verse 1 we read that the Lord SPEAKS to Lehi which means
the Lord answers our prayers.

In verse 2 it says the Lord COMMANDED Lehi (the
investigator or us) to take his family and depart into the wilderness and in
terms of speaking to the investigator it could be for example to get baptized
and for us it could be being listening to the promptings of the spirit and act
without hesitation.

In verse 3 we learn Lehi was OBEDIENT to what the Lord
said and as I read that I learned that los escogidos (the chosen) will obey the
Lord’s voice. The Lord promises His sheep (the chosen) they will know His voice
and instructs them to obey His voice. For the investigator it means to obey the
promptings of the spirit and know it is His voice inviting them to be baptized.
For us it is to obey the voice of the Lord and again not hesitate when those
promptings come.

In verse 4 and 5 we learn Lehi gave up everything and took
his family as the Lord commanded into the wilderness. We know Lehi was obedient
but also see how important family truly is. Lehi left everything; all his gold,
silver and precious things (the things of the world) took nothing except his
family. So very interesting as a missionary are focus has been changed to
finding the one to finding and teaching families and to prepare them to go to
the temple so that may be a forever family. As we bring families to the church
or unto Christ we are truly building His kingdom. So don’t always look for that
one person, look for that ONE FAMILY to share the message of the restoration
and tell them that God loves us so much He has called prophets again to guide
us and lead us in this life so we can return back to the presence of Heavenly Father
and live forever with our Families. FIND THAT FAMILY!

This Is What Happens When You Don't Have A Fork

New Year's Zone Activity: Minute To Win Games

con mucho amor, ducks forever,

Elder Mcilmoil

January 5, 2014

Ghost Town On January 1st!

Happy 2015!!!!

Tortilla count for the week: 20

Scripture of the week: 1 Corinthians 10:13

“We have the responsibility to stand strong with a shield
of faith against the fiery darts of the adversary. We are role models to the
world, protecting God-given, inalienable rights and freedoms. We stand in
defense of our homes and our families. … How will you resist [Satan’s]
aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God.” Elder Robert D. Hales

"When you come to the temple you will love your
family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about
families." Richard H. Winkel

"I should not like to contemplate an existence,
especially one that is going to continue forever, if I could not enjoy that
existence with those whom I love. And so we build temples in the name of the
Lord." Hugh B. Brown

Thursday, January 1, 2015

On December 23rd all of the missioneros de huehue (missionaries
in Huehue) sang Christmas hymns in parque central.
It was sweet; we had like 100 people or more listening and watching us. It was
such a great experience I hope they do it again next year and establish a tradition
for the missionaries to do this every year.

Feliz Navidad

Families And Christmas

This week has been a hard week; it has been full of tiny
mistakes and a lot of lessons for me to learn. It has been truly hard, but I am
beyond grateful for repentance. I have learned that repentance is one of the
greatest gifts Heavenly Father has given us in this life. I’m so grateful that
I can become better each day and that Heavenly Father is so very patient with
me, He is patient with all of us. I know He loves us today and every day. He chooses us every day. The love He has for us is so
amazing; He just loves us so much even though we are imperfect. President
Uchtdorf taught, “He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed,
rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. Regardless of our current state, there
is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our
mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw
near to Him so that He can draw near to us.” He invites us to repent and to get
better. “Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy
are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.” (Alma
5:33) It will be hard, with tears, pleadings, godly sorrow but it is so worth it (vale la pena). In
the words of President Uchtdorf, “My dear brothers and sisters, don’t get
discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you
don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to
walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try.” When we feel
the Lord forgiving us, it is so amazing, you can feel just love and feel so limpio y puro, como Cristo (clean and pure as Christ).
Change is hard but you can do it and it will remove guilt from your heart and
brings peace to your conscience. Making changes to be pure and clean will bring
you closer to our Heavenly Father and you will come to know Him a lot better.
You will begin to recognize His hand even more in your live. There will also be
a strong desire to do His will and you become like our Father in Heaven.

ElNiño de Cristo

Fireworks: Christmas Tradition

Also we had a meeting with President Smith on Friday. The
meeting was with just me and Elder Moncada. President Smith wanted to talk
about how we can mejorar la zona (improve the area).
It was amazing to have this discussion. Through our discussion we found that we
need to have the zone focus more on families. At the end President Smith asked
us what we think the zone can do better? We said the use of the Book of Mormon
more often. He said, “I want you two to think about the first missionaries, Joseph
Smith and his brother Hyrum, Parley P. Pratt and others, how many book did they
use?” We responded with, “They only used one book.” He said, “Correct, the Book
of Mormon. I have a challenge for you including your zone; all of you will
leave your Bibles in your houses and only use the Book of Mormon. Now that is
going to test your faith; trust and believe.” As I have thought about this
challenge, I know it is going to test my faith but it also going to strengthen
my faith and I will have a stronger trust in Heavenly Father and in the Book of
Mormon. My challenge to each of you this year is have a stronger focus on the
Book of Mormon. I know and promise your faith will be strengthened.

Elder Moncada And Papá Noel

Christmas Ham

What I love about Mom is the letters she had everybody
write and sent them to me for Christmas. What I love about Dad is the Christmas mornings we would
shovel snow together.

con mucho amor, ducks forever,

Elder Mcilmoil

December 29, 2014

Celebrating Elder Mac's Birthday

I Love This Kid

Scripture of the week: Alma 5:19 and 33

“Personal repentance is part of taking up the cross daily”
Elder Neal A. Maxwell